Western cyclone., 1887-01-20

"On, Ruc, sdlU Sne, HuI IiouiG LhlSS
Everard has had telegram that her
uncle is very i'll. and has taken the ten
o'clock train to Birmingham; and she
wants YOU 10 straignten up ali her things
and pile up the books and papers, and
Why, Rue, what's the matter?'
For, unable TO conceal nv chagrin. l
had burst into tit OF childish tears
Why-oh, why couldn't the telegram
nave waited until the affair Of the while
surah silk was settled?
Nothing" said, pettishly. 'only-
only it's SO warm, and I've scratched
my hands among the raspberry bushes.
| suppose it doesn't matter now whether
we have Il tart or not, does it?'
Not so much, SAID mother. "We'Il
have makeup dinner-a bit Of cold
meat, and a boiled ezg, and L cup OF
tea. and III make real Old-fashloned
cake for tea Rosy Is so busy remodel
inc her dress for Miss Waterman's
party You won't 90, Rue, suppose?'
Yes, shalIr' retorted, almost an
griIy.
Rosamund lifted her large. serene
blue eyes from the founces she was
plating.
What will you wear?" said she.
.'For | presume you don't want to be
the laughing stock of the village in that
washed-out pink thing or the stringy
white rag
| c0lorcd angrily.
"Something-anything?' cried l.
OH 70, anyhow, I'm not going TO be
Cinderella, e,crnally curled up in the
ashes!"
My dear" mildly demonstrated
mother
But only laughed and ran of to
Miss Everard's room. Was all the work
and drudgery in ones evontless life to
be miner Why couldn't ROsamund
have put away the lodger's things as
we'll as IP
In Miss Everard's wardrobe hung the
white surah silk in tempting. glistening
folds. put it on. waist and all, and
walked up and down in front OF the
glass. All it needed was taking i'll the
body seams little to be IA perfect fit
scarcely knew myself IN this new
setting of lustrous, sheeny white. L
looked. almost increduously, at my
own reflection.
know she would give her consent were
she here, and there is no reason why
my whole future should bo blighted be-
cause lack the courage TO seize upon
this opportunity"
On the table there lay a glittering
band of gold set with three iurquOiSes.
clasped it oxultantlv around my wrist.
lit is becoming to me. said, I'll
wear that, too. | won't dress until
Rosamund has gone. She will think
that have given up the battle, and it
will be rather amusing TO sec her face
wien come in, robed az gIoriouSly as
the Queen OF ShebaT
And | laughed softly to myself as
once more | hung the lovely white gown
up in the wardrobe. | danced and
sang about my work all day. Rosa
mund looked curiously at me once or
twice.
'What ails Rue?" said she. HAS
someone left her fortune?"
Fortunes don't come our way" | re-
torted.
But, after Rosy had gone. in the star
r., sultry dusk of the summer evening.
mother knocked at my door.
"Ruer she called. "where are you?
Here is Mrs. Morse's maid come after
the caps. Are they readyp"
gave guilty start In my prooo-
cupation had forgotten TO take the box
of laces home as usual
Yes. they're all ready" said I'll
put them into the box at once. I'm so
sorry that it slipped my mind"
''lt don't matter, miss" Maria, tho
maid, said cheerily. Il was coming past
here. anyway"
handed out the box through the
crack of the door.
Here it is" said l.
Are you going to bed already, dcar?"
asked mother.
1T has been such hard day." l
equvOcated.
You are not III, Rue, dearp'
mo, mamma, not ill.," | answered,
with guilty pang ut my heart Don't
fret. | shall be us bright as a button
tomorrow morning. It's only the heat,
and-and RoSamund's tormenting
ways!'
Yes" sighed mother, I'm afraid
Rosy IS rather trying sometimes. Good
night, darling
And she went softly away. while I
made haste to complete my toilet, with
throbbing heart and burning cheeks.
Did | look pretty in the white surah
silk, with the bit of blue ribbon at nv
throat, and the blue lobelia-stars in nv
hair?-or was it only my own self-con-
cei?
But Rosamund certainly did stare as
if she were all eyes when she SAW me
standing Mt the head of the. Lancers
QuadrilIes, with Walter Yorke at my
side.
You she cried.
"Myself-at your serviccr' answer
ed. courisoying my lowest rs advanc-
| ed in the dance.
Until my unexpected appearance.
RoSamund had been the belle. After
that-at least SO people had told me
afterwards L carried Oft the laurels.
You little enchantreSsr' cried Wal